Hi, I'm John Davis and this is MotorWeek !

Ride along with us in the Ram 1500 TRX SRT... Then, it's the conclusion of our centennial celebration of U.S.

Route 66... Audra Fordin gets to those pesky leaks on "Your Drive!"

And a new luxury sport sedan from Audi, the A6... So, come drive with us, next!

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JOHN: The Ram 1500 got a major update for 2025, and not only did they replace the hallowed HEMI V8 with a new twin-turbo I6 engine, they dropped their apex predator TRX.

Well, they've now righted both of those wrongs, as the HEMI returned last year, and for 2027, there's a new Hellcat-powered, SRT-badged TRX ready to deliver more thrills than ever.

♪ ♪ Good news, the TRX is back.

Better news, it's not just back, the 2027 Ram 1500 TRX SRT is better than ever.

Yes, after a 2-year break, the TRX has returned and is now proudly sporting an SRT badge as a full member of a reborn SRT Performance division at Stellantis.

And this off-road muscle truck is looking to reclaim its place as the world's fastest and most powerful production gas-fueled pickup.

In the Ram ranks, this mission requires a HEMI of course, and the TRX's 6.2 liter supercharged Hellcat V8 has been revised with a new valvetrain, higher fuel pressure, a smaller supercharger pulley and updated engine management software, resulting in 777 horsepower and 680 pound-feet of torque.

This same engine will power Ram's upcoming street-focused Rumble Bee SRT muscle truck as well.

Running down the TRX spec sheet, we find forged aluminum upper and lower control arms for the front suspension allowing for 13 inches of travel, while in back the five-link is capable of 14 inches of travel; both ends getting Bilstein Blackhawk e2 active dampers.

The transmission is a beefed-up Torqueflite 8-speed automatic, controlled by either a unique console shifter or aluminum paddles on the steering wheel.

There's a Dana 60 locker rear axle with a 3.55 ratio, and 35 inch tires on 18 inch wheels.

Ground clearance is just under 12 inches.

It's all mostly the same setup as the RHO, just updated to handle the Hellcat power.

The TRX is full-time 4-wheel-drive with manual choices being high, low or locked.

In auto mode it's rear biased, sending as much as 75 percent of power rearward in Baja, one of the nine available modes.

Standard Launch Control enables blasting to 60 in only 3.5 seconds, according to Ram.

Our early drive time came in the TRX's native territory, the state of Michigan.

It certainly felt big and tall, but that long travel suspension and the 35 inch tires delivered a soft and controlled ride.

With roaring exhaust and a very audible supercharger whine, there's something for just about every sense to enjoy, and despite the huge power numbers, it never felt overwhelming or uncontrollable.

We also got the chance to hammer the TRX around a purpose-built off-road course, and through all the bumps and, yes jumps, it never really broke a sweat, feeling better and better the harder we pushed it.

The TRX comes as a Crew Cab only, with the 5.0 foot 7.0 inch bed.

But it is 6.0 inches wider than a standard 1500, with composite fender flares, unique grille and updated lighting; plus, steel bumpers with tow hooks, skid plates running underneath, and gloss black 5.0 inch exhaust tips.

If you're looking to be a little less subtle out on the trail, grab one of the Bloodshot Night Editions which comes with special paint, graphics, logos, carbon fiber, and beadlock wheels.

All TRXs come incredibly well equipped, including a heavy dose of black leather and carbon fiber materials, massaging front seats, updated 14.5 inch Uconnect infotainment, a bank of auxiliary switches, dual wireless phone chargers, a 12.3 inch digital gauge display and a comprehensive 10 inch head-up display.

A 19-speaker Harman Kardon system handles audio.

There's a surround view camera system, embroidered logos, suede headliner, a full suite of active driving features including hands-free level 2 driving, and even active noise cancellation.

As you can imagine, it's quite a step up into the cabin, but buyers can add running boards or go with full-length rock rails for added protection.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 10 city, 14 highway, and 12 combined.

Not surprisingly, there's a much worse than average Energy Impact Score, consuming 24.8 Barrels of Oil Annually while emitting 12.4 Tons of CO2.

The apex predator of pickup trucks comes with an also not surprisingly high starting price of $102,790.

A lot has been changing at Stellantis recently, with the relaunch of their Street and Racing Technology division being by far the most exciting.

A.I.

may be taking over everything, but at least at Ram, A.I.

stands for "Adrenaline and Insanity."

We were certainly flying high in this 2027 Ram 1500 TRX SRT and are looking forward to all the automotive insanity that SRT has headed our way.

♪ ♪ JOHN: Last week, we sent Greg Carloss and family "Over the Edge" for a road trip of America's century-old U.S.

Route 66.

Well, when we left them, they were off to a great start.

Well, now let's check back in and see how they concluded their highway celebration.

♪ ♪ GREG CARLOSS: In the three days of our Route 66 Centennial road trip, my family and I drove over 700 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Tulsa, Oklahoma, with all kinds of fun stops along the way.

Halfway through, the goal is still to make it to Albuquerque, New Mexico, by the end of our 6th day before we have to turn back and head home.

Of course, we don't even make it out of Tulsa before stopping at the Route 66 Historical Village.

So, consider this a tip: Set aside at least a full day for Tulsa.

It is the capital of Route 66 after all.

Back aboard our ultra-comfortable 2026 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, we find older sections of the route where the road surface's heyday has come and gone.

Thank goodness for air suspension.

We hit Stroud, Oklahoma's Rock Cafe for some impromptu mid-morning beignets.

Again, there are no dietary rules on Route 66, which is why we waste no time washing down the powdered sugar with some liquefied sugar at Pop's 66 Soda Ranch.

We think we've hit our intestinal limits for the day, but then we stop by the Filling Station Visitor Center in El Reno.

BECKY RIGGS: Onion burgers.

I mean, you gotta come try an onion burger.

We got Sid's, Robert's, Jonnie's.

There's just endless things to do and taste in town.

GREG: Fine.

One El Reno onion burger, please!

Hot!

Officially full of Oklahoma, we finally reach Texas by nightfall, just in time to see the Conoco Tower Station's beautiful art deco architecture under the glow of the quintessential Route 66 neon lighting.

Most of day four runs through Texas and eventually crosses into the Mountain Time Zone at the New Mexico border as we aim for the city of Tucumcari.

With the long-distance travel days behind us, we're relieved to move at a more leisurely pace, giving us the chance to check out some of the many eerie abandoned structures along the route.

Places like Amarillo still feel vibrant, where we grab breakfast before leaving our mark at Cadillac Ranch.

We stopped and grabbed a few cans of spray paint beforehand, but there are plenty of used ones lying around, if you're not picky about color.

Down the road in Adrian, Texas, we hit the exact midpoint of Route 66, marked by an actual line, a photo-op sign and the Midpoint Cafe.

Entering New Mexico, the geographical transition from the plains to the southwest is almost instant as we're greeted by spectacular mesas.

In Tucumcari, we check in to what will be our favorite lodging on the route: Motel Safari.

RICH HAVLIK: I was at my desk during the pandemic thinking, "am I gonna do this the next 10-20 years?"

I thought about it for a few days, and owning and running a motel on Route 66 kinda checked all the boxes in my head.

It took me four years but I finally got a motel on 66.

GREG: Tucumcari is just the kind of town that comes to mind when I think of Route 66.

Of course, best-experienced at sunset.

Alright, Kids.

Last day on Route 66.

KRISTIN: Owww.

GREG: I know.

Crazy, right?

MARGOT: Yay!

GREG: Yay?

KRISTIN: Oh, no!

GREG: On this sixth and final day we have time to spare, so we take the original route alignment that goes north to Santa Fe before linking back up with the more direct path to Albuquerque established in 1937.

We make an unscheduled stop at Pecos National Historical Park to explore the ancient pueblos and descend into an underground kiva.

But eventually the effects of being 7,000 feet above sea level take their toll and we decide it's best to head straight to Albuquerque.

We just crossed 1,500 miles on our Route 66 journey.

We're in Albuquerque.

We did it, everybody.

Give yourselves a round of applause.

We made it!

To celebrate, we let the kids have their fun at the playground, and then we have our fun looking for Easter eggs from one of our all-time favorite television shows.

Then, it's one more museum and one more chilidog as our epic Route 66 adventure comes to a close.

It's funny how things evolve over time.

In 1926, the purpose of Route 66 was to speed up automobile travel.

But as life got exponentially faster over the last 100 years, the road now serves to slow us down, which is tough these days.

So, convincing your wife and kids to take a week out of their summer vacations and drive across the country just for kicks is a hard sell.

Even I wasn't totally sure we'd make it.

But looking back on it now, the beautiful things we saw and the wonderful people we met along the way, the only regret is not finishing the entire route.

One-thousand five-hundred memorable miles with my family, and I can honestly say, it was one of the best weeks of my life.

Hopefully, we'll find our way back to Route 66 and finish what we started together.

JOHN: Thanks, Greg.

Now, if you're planning your own Route 66 road trip, be sure to check out the extended cuts of both parts of our adventure on our YouTube channel.

And before you shove off, heed the car care wisdom from Audra Fordin so that your vacation is more epic than odyssey.

It's all about leaks on this week's "Your Drive."

(car starts up) AUDRA FORDIN: You walk outside in the morning, head toward your car, coffee in hand and there it is: A mysterious puddle underneath your vehicle, and immediately your brain starts doing gymnastics.

Is it serious?

Is my car dying?

Can I still drive it?

How expensive is this about to be?

Wait.

Before you panic, your car leaking fluid is actually a lot like the human body giving you symptoms.

Different fluids point to different systems.

Today, we are learning what's normal and what's definitely not normal, starting with the easiest one: Water.

If you see clear water dripping underneath your car, especially during hot weather, it's usually just condensation from your air conditioning system.

Completely normal.

Your car is basically sweating.

Now, darker fluid; brown or black fluid?

That's usually engine oil, and oil is the lifeblood of your engine.

It lubricates moving parts and prevents heat and friction from destroying the internal components.

While, a small oil leak today may not seem urgent, until low oil levels turn into major engine damage later.

Red fluid can mean power steering fluid or transmission fluid.

And transmission repairs are definitely not something you want to ignore; your transmission depends on proper fluid pressure to shift correctly and stay cool.

When it comes to coolant, it comes in every color under the rainbow, literally.

Pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.

Your cooling system controls engine temperature, and modern engines run hot.

If coolant leaks are ignored, overheating can happen real fast.

And here's something drivers don't always realize: not every leak hits the driveway immediately.

Sometimes, fluid burns off on the hot engine parts before it even reaches the ground, and that's why you need to pay attention; those sweet smells, smoke, sudden fluid loss, should never be ignored.

One thing I always tell drivers is that your driveway leaves clues.

Pay attention to the color, be mindful where the fluid is, whether it's thin or feels thick, whether it smells burnt or it's sweet.

It's those little observations that help technicians diagnose the problems much faster.

And no, seeing a small spot under your car does not automatically mean disaster.

Cars age, seals wear, and gaskets, they normally shrink over time.

The goal here isn't to panic every time you see a drip.

The goal is learning the difference between normal condensation and warning signs that your car is asking for help.

If you have any questions or comments, reach out to us right here, at MotorWeek .

JOHN: Now, most of you may not be familiar with the motorcycle brand Moto Morini.

It's actually been around since the 1930s, but the 1980s brought about various ownership changes and liquidations which eventually lead to its end in 2009.

Well, after a soft relaunch in 2012, new ownership took over in 2018, and has been going full speed ahead ever since.

Well, this week, our Brian Robinson escapes for an international adventure.

♪ ♪ BRIAN ROBINSON: Yes, we'll get it out of the way right at the top: the ownership of Italy's Moto Morini is a Chinese company.

But in much the same way Geely treats Volvo on the automotive side of things, they let the Italians do their thing when it comes to engineering, development, and design, while manufacturing takes place in China.

This allows for an incredible number of features and tech to be packed in for a very low price.

More on that later.

Much like SUVs in the car world, adventure bikes are slowly taking over the motorcycle scene.

So, this X-CAPE 1200 is certainly the right bike at the right time.

And it's easy to see why adventure bikes are becoming so popular, as many now offer close to sport-bike levels of handling with greater comfort and lots of suspension travel so you don't have to fear mid-corner bumps and pavement imperfections.

And that's certainly the case here with the X-Cape 1200's KYB suspension, which is multi-adjustable and features 7.0 inches of travel front and rear.

Add in some grippy Pirellis on the 19 inch front and 17 inch rear wheels and you've got essentially a tall sport-bike that beats with an Italian heart.

Pumping the power is a 1,187cc V-twin rated at 129 horsepower and 78 pound-feet of torque.

It's pure Italian twin right from start up, with a very loud mechanical bark and rumble; easily the loudest stock exhaust I've heard in a long time, and I'm definitely not complaining.

But where the X-CAPE 1200 really stands out is its sheer number of standard features.

A 7.0 inch TFT screen, adjustable windscreen, heated front and rear seats, heated grips, cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, LED lights with DRLs and active cornering lights, tire pressure monitoring, Bosch 6-Axis inertial measurement that allows for motorcycle-specific ABS, traction control, and ride mode functions, and even a dashcam, or technically, a camera mounted just below the headlights that allows you to record video directly to the cloud.

The TFT display is big, bright, and packed full of info, though the sweeping tach and digital speed display take up most of the space.

Other specifics include spoked wheels that work with tubeless tires and quality components such as Brembo brakes with braided steel lines.

Like most adventure bikes, it is very tall, but a 33.1 inch seat height means you sit down in the bike, more than on top of it; as does the fuel, with much of the 6.5 gallon tank down low around the engine not on top of it.

With most of the current Motor Morini lineup falling in the entry level category at around $5,000-$7,000, this 2026 X-CAPE 1200 is a big step up for them, to $12,999.

But, they've done their homework, hitting the heart of the big adventure bike market hard with more features at a price no one else can match; even including a 3-year unlimited mile warranty.

All while delivering a riding experience that's truly sublime, and all Italian.

JOHN: No doubt, SUVs are here to stay, but when it comes to a posh driving experience, there's just something about a true luxury sedan that feels more special than any utility ever could.

And that brings us to this Audi A6, which kicks a new generation for 2026, bringing more features and, yes, more tech than ever before.

So, let's find out if it's still something special to drive!

♪ ♪ Audi has been mixing things up on the car side of their lineup over the last few years; so, we're glad to see that the A6 sedan returns for another generation for 2026 and hasn't been tossed aside for yet another crossover.

Always on the conservative side of elegance, this sophisticated midsizer does take a slightly more athletic turn, with its Singleframe grille expanding vertically; the corner air intakes have been enlarged, while headlights slimmed down.

Proportions are mostly the same, but bodysides have been smoothed, while the rear also gets a bit of added aggression.

Nineteen-inch wheels are standard with 20 and 21s available.

Lying below this enormous plastic cover is a turbocharged 3.0 liter V6 rated at 362 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque.

That's 27 horsepower and 37 pound-feet over last year, but Audi is much prouder of the refinements they've made to reduce noise, vibration and harshness.

It powers a driving experience that is absolutely close to perfection; plenty of steady and strong power that never felt overwhelming, with a smooth operating 7-speed dual-clutch transmission managing it well.

No matter the road surface, the A6 will have you soaking up scenery in superior comfort.

It felt so smooth on the road, our test drivers weren't quite ready for what was about to happen at our Mason Dixon test track.

The A6 is fast, like 4.4 seconds to 60 fast; but that really wasn't the shocker, it was the sheer brutality with which launch control put this thing into motion.

It launched so hard, our test drivers were sure something was about to break, but nothing ever did.

Even the car itself didn't seem quite ready for it, as right after exploding off the line, the A6 took a brief pause to gather itself before getting back to full power.

It was an overall unique experience, and you can't argue with the results.

Unfortunately, track maintenance kept us from being able to run the full quarter-mile, but we'd put it right around 13 seconds, if we had to wager.

In the slalom course, it felt very well balanced and there was plenty of grip thanks to standard quattro all-wheel-drive.

We generally have plenty of good things to say about Audi interiors, as their blending of technology with world-class materials remains special.

We did find some quirkiness to deal with, like the sliding toggle shifter with tiny "Park" button, but features like the panoramic glass roof with variable light control, great looking screens and easy to use tech made it well worthwhile.

An available Exclusive Design Package adds poplar wood inlays, Nappa leather with diamond stitching, stainless steel trim, and Audi S badging.

Rear seat accommodations are equally luxurious, with plentiful legroom and headroom for adults.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 20 city, 29 highway, and 23 combined.

We averaged 29.1 miles per gallon in our drive loop.

A6 pricing starts at $65,495, with top Prestige starting at $73,595.

In a world of overpriced and over the top utility vehicles, the 2026 Audi A6 may be an outlier, but it offers way more performance and style than before, while continuing to push the boundaries of tech infusion.

All of these things blend together in a seamless and luxurious manner that few other vehicles can match, which does indeed make the A6 a truly special vehicle to drive.

Well, that's our show, I hope you enjoyed it.

Now, for more MotorWeek , including daily news updates, podcasts, and even complete episodes, cruise on over to PBS.ORG/ MOTORWEEK.

And I hope you'll join us next time for a performance-minded luxury wagon, the Mercedes-AMG E53, followed by Subaru's smallest EV yet, the Uncharted.

Until then, I'm John Davis.

We'll see you right here on MotorWeek !

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